 When Dogs Cry Pan 2001 204p pbk $13.95 ISBN: 0-330-36309-3 | When Dogs Cry is about Cameron or Cam, who is a typical underdog. He hasnt had much in the way of a love life none. His older brother Rube goes through girls like a knife through butter. Everyone seems to pity him. But then one day, he takes a pencil and paper, and writes down words from his head, describing a journey that takes place in his heart. Given heart by this, Cam Wolfe meets a girl, stands up for himself and shows the world what an underdog can do. This book is a bit of a mix. Poetic, rough, gentle, it is everything at different times. Teen boys and girls alike, this is a good book to read, anytime. I would have to say that I loved it. I couldnt put it down. And now, Im going to recommend it to everyone out there who has ever felt that hunger inside them. Youll all identify with Cam. Ros, aged 15, Canberra, ACT |
| One day I was in the library and I was returning a book and a library teacher asked if I could do a book report on it. I thought about it for 1.5 seconds. I had no homework; I didnt want to read for 1 and a half hours (Im in boarding school and we have to be at our desks for that long). So I said Yes I still remember picking up the book. I was lining up to borrow some other books when I saw it on the display shelf. I grabbed it and added it to the pile of books that I wanted to borrow. The book was called: When Dogs Cry, by Markus Zusak. It was about a boy named Cameron Wolfe. Hes a kid that thinks he always looks up to his brother. But thats not true. His brother (Rube) gets heaps of girl friends but hes never had one. My names Cameron Ive always said that I wanted to drown inside a girl, inside her spirit but Ive never come close- Ive barely even touched a girl. I dont have friends. Ive lived in the shadow of both my brothers. (A fragment from page 102) His brothers a really good fighter; hes never lost a fight in his life. Not till he met the wrong girl friend. The one that changed Camerons life. I really enjoyed the book it was different to some of the other books Ive read. It could have had some more info to make a better picture in my head. But all in all I thought it was one of the best books Ive read. Youre a bit of a lonely bastard, arent you? said Rube Yeah I answered I guess I am. But Cameron Wolfe is hungry. Hes sick of being filthy, torn, half-scowling, half smiling underdog. Hes finally met a girl. Hes got words in his spirit. And now hes out to prove that nothing more beautiful than an underdog whos willing to stand up. | |
| When Dogs Cry by Marcus Zusak is the third in a series about Cameron and Ruben Wolfe. Ruben is popular with the girls but Cam cant work out why. Ruben always treats them badly and dumps them as soon as he has finished with them. Ruben calls Cam a lonely bastard because Cam is very shy and has trouble talking to girls. Cam and Ruben have an older brother Steve. Both boys look up to Steve and Cam especially loves going to see Steve play footy. But Steve thinks Cam is a loser and one day he tells Cam that. It takes Cam a long time to get over this verbal assault by his idol, but it helps him become more resilient. Steve gives Cam the hunger, the desire to do something with his life. Cam reveres his mother, Mrs Wolfe, who keeps the whole family together. Cam and Ruben have a love/hate relationship but there are close when they do things like take the next-door neighbours dog for a walk. They cannot verbalise their love for each other, but it is there when the going gets tough. Things change for the brothers when Octavia asks Cam out. Ruben becomes jealous, but for the first time in his life, Cam can give his love freely to a girl. Ruben gets into trouble when he steals another guys girl. I loved this book, it had me hooked from beginning to end. To read about a sensitive guy who wants to treat girls right is a breath of fresh air. I also love the way Cameron writes poetry at the end of each chapter. There is a lot of humour in When Dogs Cry as well. This is a teen issues book with quite a lot of romance and some suspense. It was quite easy to read I would recommend this book for any boy or girl in year 9 or above. Julia, aged 15, metropolitan Melbourne |
